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Back to topic again.

That said, I was used to build SH every time, because I just like the wonder itself and I don't like to build monuments, too tedious.
But that doesn't mean very much, I'm not a really effective player .

I build that thing too much for my own good. Maybe those chops are better spent on the oracle. That being said, Degaulle is the best use of henge; otherwise I don't think it's that great unless you start with Mysticism. The Prophet points are also an issue.

That said, I was used to build SH every time, because I just like the wonder itself and I don't like to build monuments, too tedious.
But that doesn't mean very much, I'm not a really effective player .

I agree. It can get really annoying to build all of the monuments, especially if you are nice and large by the time you build SH.

For awhile, I experimented with a no-monument library-whip strategy for early culture, which worked fairly well if the AIs were far away or were at least not Creative. You basically have to beeline Bronze Working and then Writing, though, so you can't waste time picking up early wonders that don't jive with this research schedule (Great Lighthouse, Stonehenge, Oracle, etc.). Then, I'd research Alphabet and trade for all the Mysticism-type techs and Sailing. No early wonders in exchange for quicker scientist specialists and the ability to conquer and hold onto more lands without totally breaking your research.

Antilogic-
Sounds like its time for you to pursue that strategy in redux.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_J

That said, I was used to build SH every time, because I just like the wonder itself and I don't like to build monuments, too tedious.
But that doesn't mean very much, I'm not a really effective player .

I like to hear the just-for-fun perspective as much as the efficiency argument. What could be more enjoyable than a wonder you can build almost from turn 1? With sweeping culture pressure benefits if properly placed, horizontal growth be damned!

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As for the topic, I like stonehenge but only build it based on what civ I am playing (and how I plan on winning). The way I like to use it is to make my first 4-5 cities pretty spread out, since they get monument right away, their borders will expand so that you can then fill in quite nicely with other cities while keeping other civs out. Also, if stone is close to the capital then I nearly always build it. (meant for higher difficulties since at low difficulty you can build just about whatever you want)

I usually build it when I want to be peaceful for the start of the game, allows one to claim a lot of land while not antagonizing the AI. I choose that game style/play a bit since early conquest is such a massive win or fail (and thus, makes for quick defeats or easy victories).

Stone Hedge-Fund can be a disadvantage in some situations. The 'free' monuments from SH disappear when you get astronomy, whereas monuments constructed normally will continue producing culture for the rest of the game. Also, free monuments don't get the 1000 year double-culture bonus.

Stonehenge is a great wonder! Awesome for charismatic, warring or Egypt.

An interesting build is actually doing a one base Stonehenge=>Oracle. Doing so with a cultural victory in mind will let you grab CoL and either Mono or Theology. Gives you a very early prophet to either house (for exapansion) or bulb (for religion founding).
Doesn't work too well above Monarch though.

Stonehenge is a great wonder! Awesome for charismatic, warring or Egypt.

An interesting build is actually doing a one base Stonehenge=>Oracle. Doing so with a cultural victory in mind will let you grab CoL and either Mono or Theology. Gives you a very early prophet to either house (for exapansion) or bulb (for religion founding).
Doesn't work too well above Monarch though.

I must disagree. I do that sequence all the time at Immortal level. I normally tech Mono manually and save the first Great Prophet to bulb Theology. Even after Library, I sometimes run priests instead of scientists in Thebes to keep getting Great Prophets to build the shrine and then bulb things like Civil Service and/or Divine Right to found Islam as my third religion when needed. Most people around here would say I should be running scientists in Thebes instead, but I don't think that is always best strategy.

Wow then I must suck, I have a little bit of difficulty keeping up after doing that on Monarch so I'm pleased to know you can do it on Immortal. Also you're right on Theology, Mono is best manually researched, I don't know what I was thinking when I said bulb it.

You may be wasting time early on unnecessary techs. All you need is basic defense (usually Archers) and then beeline to Priesthood and build Oracle while you are teching Writing. That works at Immortal.

Yes, Industrious sure makes a difference. I always play random leaders (with their usual empires). In my current game, I got an Industrious leader for the first time (despite having played for years - RNG, go figure), Augustus. Although my poor starting territory let the early wonders be taken by other empires, I have really cleaned up the rest, while still building the largest military in the game and teching ahead of them all. This is only Noble but I would not have even considered all that wonder building without the industrious trait.